Picture of the Week #196 "Monk Meeting" Paru, Bhutan 2000 Signed and Stamped

Another image from my series from Bhutan. Even though the decree of this little kingdom is happiness, you wouldn't know it looking at some of the expressions on their faces. The picture was taken at a religious festival where masked dancers whirled about in an age old tradition while these loyal devotees watched in silence.

Picture of the Week #195 "Eight Million Stories" New York City NY 1970 Signed and Stamped

Forty-two years later and this image still haunts me. I made this when I was producing and directing a music video for the rock group "Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show". The song was called "Carry Me" and was about alcoholism. Not sure how to portray that I hid a camera in my coat and went to the Bowery, which in those days was where the addicted hung out. I've shown a couple of images from this series before. (see Pictures of the Week #7 & #68) I tried sneaking pictures but was caught fairly soon by two of the meanest looking guys you ever saw. They asked for a quarter. I gave it to them. They became my "guides" and walked me around so that I could get the pictures that I needed. Years later I turned these 35mm color transparencies Black and White and had a show titled "Holy Men Medicine Men Mad Men" which channeled me away from filmmaking and painting and allowed me to pursue my passion of taking pictures after a Vanity Fair editor had said; "Stephen Verona's work recalls the greatness of Steichen and Weegee with all of the passion of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. A Must see!" I've never looked back except to my pictures.

Picture of the Week #194 "Guarding the Modern Art" France  1982 Signed and Stamped

I painted this picture in 1983, but for the life of me I can't remember if this was in Paris or the South of France. I do know that this picture was taken in 1982. I went through my 35mm slides but couldn't find the original. I also remember that I had a few pictures of this guard and remember he moved away as if to allow me to photograph the paintings. Little did he know I was more interested in him and his demeanor than the abstract images that flanked him. When I created the painting from this photo I made up my own abstracts which were more colorful and flamboyant than these. Thirty years later this looks as fresh as when I took it.

Picture of the Week #193 "Nap Time" Bangkok, Thailand 1989 Signed and Stamped

This woodworker grabbed a few zzz's in his storefront workshop. I couldn't resist taking the picture. Hopefully enough time has gone by in case his boss sees this picture that he will not be in trouble. I truly doubt that I could find this shop today to show him his picture. Such is life.